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The Future of Transportation: Safety, Opportunity, and Innovation

A Volpe Thought Leadership Series

Transportation innovation is happening at an unprecedented pace. From driverless cars to unmanned deliveries to smart cities, innovation and new technologies are key to the future of a safe, reliable transportation system that helps more Americans reach economic opportunity.

We’re entering a transportation landscape rich with possibility, and full of challenges. The next decade could bring more change to transportation and to the transportation workforce than we saw over the past century.

Event News and Video

Highly Automated Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities

Fatal crashes are increasing, but nearly all of them are theoretically preventable, said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind, who spoke at Volpe about strategies and actions to achieve zero deaths on America’s roads.

Exploring the Interplay Between Cities and Transportation

October 26, 2016

Edward Glaeser, PhDFred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University

As much as ever, transportation technologies are shaping America’s cities. Technology is changing quickly, and smart, sensible transportation is part of realizing an inclusive American dream, said Harvard University economics professor Edward Glaeser during his talk at Volpe.

Reimagining Transportation from the Internet Up

October 21, 2016

Daniel L. DoctoroffChairman and CEO, Sidewalk Labs

Imagine you lived in a city completely wired for connectivity, with comprehensive data about where people want to go. How would you use this insight to reimagine a transportation system that's more affordable, equitable, and efficient? In his talk, Daniel Doctoroff, chairman and CEO of Sidewalk Labs, explored this question.

Government at the Speed of Silicon Valley

October 6, 2016

J. Christian Gerdes, PhDU.S. DOT Chief Innovation Officer

Can the federal government possibly keep pace with private-sector innovators? In this talk, U.S. DOT Chief Innovation Officer Chris Gerdes discussed prototyping as a technique for rapid learning and described a number of ways in which U.S. DOT is harnessing this approach to improve safety and provide opportunity.

Joint Panel on Urban Mobility

Robin ChaseCo-Founder and Former CEO of ZipCar, Buzzcar, and GoLoco, and Co-Founder, Veniam

Anthony Townsend, PhDSenior Research Scientist, New York University

Austin BrownAssistant Director for Clean Energy and Transportation, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President

Automated vehicles are coming sooner than you might think, according to two leading thinkers in transportation. Volpe recently hosted Robin Chase and Anthony Townsend for a special joint panel on vehicle automation and urban mobility, moderated by Austin Brown of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

From Transit to Access: Rethinking How Cities Connect Their Residents to Opportunity

September 23, 2016

Ben HechtPresident and CEO, Living Cities

Transportation infrastructure can be a catalyst for change, connecting city residents to opportunity. In fact, transportation may be the most important way we have to address disparities in income and wealth, according to Ben Hecht, president and CEO of Living Cities, who spoke as part of Volpe's Future of Transportation series.

Making Cities for and with People

September 8, 2016

Jeff RisomPartner and Managing Director, Gehl Studio in the U.S.

Residential density, intersection density, public transport density, and number of parks are physical elements that can have real, positive impacts on a city’s residents, according to Jeff Risom, partner and managing director of Gehl Studio in the U.S. During this event, Risom discussed people-centric design and the need for collaboration across various institutions and backgrounds to create appealing spaces for people.

Autonomy and Shared Mobility in the Urban Environment

Vehicle automation presents a huge opportunity for our society and economy in terms of car ownership and operation. During this event, Dr. Emilio Frazzoli discussed the possibilities and potential impacts of combining autonomous vehicles with ride-sharing technologies.

Secretary Foxx Looks Toward the Future of Transportation

June 27, 2016

Anthony FoxxU.S. Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation

With rapid changes to technology and the increasing needs of a growing population, the United States must rethink how it delivers transportation. The future of our transportation must meet new challenges and close opportunity gaps. During this event, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx explored the necessary steps to develop safe and efficient mobility for everyone.

Robin Chase, Co-Founder and Former CEO of ZipCar, Buzzcar, and GoLoco, and Co-Founder, VeniamAnthony Townsend, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, New York UniversityAustin Brown, Assistant Director for Clean Energy and Transportation, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the PresidentSeptember 29, 2016